What is it about?
Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are useful in many everyday applications, but sticking them to rough surfaces can be difficult because bumps on the surface limit contact with the adhesive. Liquid-like adhesives can fill in these bumps, but they tend to lose their shape and slide over time.
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Why is it important?
In this study, we tackled these problems by using liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) adhesives, which can behave like a liquid to mold to rough surfaces while still being strong like a solid. The LCEs can stretch and move to fit the rough surface better, and their structure holds everything together without slipping. This unique feature makes them stick better to rough surfaces than regular adhesives.
Perspectives
This study which began as a curious fundamental question, led to some interesting results and has great potential in real world applications.
Raja Annapooranan
University of California San Diego
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Soft elasticity enabled adhesion enhancement of liquid crystal elastomers on rough surfaces, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, October 2024, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2412635121.
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